Why do dog treats give my dog diarrhea

Dog Diarrhea Survival Guide

Its not a topic anyone likes to discuss, but if you own a dog, chances are you have found yourself cleaning up a smelly mess of dog diarrhea (or, not-quite-politely put, doggie runs) more times than youd care to think about. Diarrhea is a common dog condition and it varies in frequency, duration, and intensity from dog to dog.

You might not be able to totally prevent your dogs diarrhea, but knowing why dogs get diarrhea might help limit the number times your dog has an unpleasant episode of the runs, and reduce the duration of dog diarrhea when it happens. Luckily, there are dog diarrhea medicine treatments and anti-diarrhea supplements for dogs that you can turn to to help make it stop.

How a Dogs Digestive System Works

There are several differences between the way dogs and people digest food. First of all, your jaw shape and salivary enzymes will start breaking down food components while its still in your mouth. Dogs, on the other hand, have mouths and jaws made for tearing, crushing, and literally wolfing food down. A dogs salivary enzymes are mostly designed to kill bacteria, which is why they can tolerate things in their mouths (food or otherwise) that would send their human companions to the hospital (and just about definitely give a person diarrhea).

Food travels rapidly down the dogs esophagus and enters their stomach in chunks, where most digestion takes place. A dogs stomach acids are about three times stronger than those of people, so they can digest food that is pretty much intact. Under normal circumstances, the time it takes for food to get from a dogs mouth and through the small and large intestines should be under 10 hours, with the end result being a firm, well-formed poop.

Top Causes of Dog Diarrhea

Many things can disrupt this well-balanced canine digestive system, causing dogs to have diarrhea orless frequentlyconstipation. Some causes, like eating too much grass, are not serious at all. (Some dogs really enjoy grazing on grass.) Others causes can be life-threatening problems, such as an indigestible object (like a rock) lodged in the stomach, or a disease like cancer.

When in doubt, always consult your veterinarian. There are many reasons why a dog may develop loose stools, but most of the time, dog diarrhea is caused by:

• Dietary indiscretion: Eating too much food, eating garbage, or eating spoiled food. Theres actually a name for it in veterinary circlesgarbage toxicosis or garbage gut.
• Change in diet: It may take a few days for a dogs digestive system to adapt to digesting new proteins. Thats why many dog-food manufacturers recommend that you go slow when you switch from one brand of food to another.
• Food intolerance
• Allergies
• Parasites: Most of these will cause illness in puppies or in adults with weak immune systems:
  • Roundworms
  • Hookworms
  • Whipworms
  • Coccidia
  • Giardia
• Poisonous substances or plants
• Swallowing an indigestible foreign body, like a toy orsocks
• Infections with common viruses such as:
  • Parvovirus
  • Distemper
  • Canine coronavirus
• Bacterial infections, such as salmonella
• Illnesses, such as kidney and liver disease, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer
• Antibiotics and other medications
• Stress or emotional upset

What Poop Says About Your Dogs Health

The consistency and color of diarrhea reveal a lot about the cause of the diarrhea and what is happening in your dogs gut. Take careful note of the color, consistency, and anything else that might help you describe your dogs symptoms to a vet. In many cases, dog diarrhea will resolve after a few days of home treatment, but its a good idea to give your vet a call if it continues any longer, or you have no hint toward an innocuous reason for why your dog has diarrhea (no knocked-over garbage can, no drinking from a puddle, etc.)

This infographic from Purina gives you an idea of what a perfect dog poop looks like, which is chocolate brown, shaped like a log, compact, and easy to scoop. Experts say it should feel like cookie dough or Play-Doh when pressed. Large volumes of poop, a pudding-like or watery consistency, signs of jelly-like mucus, or blood streaks are all not normal.

Color can also indicate a lot about what is going on inside your dogs gut. Chocolate brown dog poop is normal, while dog poop colors like orange, green, or gray may signify issues with such organs as liver, gall bladder, or pancreas. Black tarry stool in dogs is very serious, and may point to internal bleeding. If you see black tarry poop or bright red blood in your dogs poop, contact your vet as soon as possible. Purina has also provided a handy referencea color wheel of dog poop.

Knowing the normal color, shape, and consistency of your dogs poop will help you and your vet figure out what is wrong when your dog gets diarrhea. These factors will help your vet determine where the problem is originating along the dogs digestive tract.

Other Ways to Decipher Dog Poop

But it doesnt end there. Other common weird things to note about your dogs poop, in addition to color, and what each might be telling you about why your dog has the runs:

• Frequency:
  • Small amounts of poop with straining, several times in an hour, can be a sign of inflammation of your dogs large bowel.
  • Three or four dog poops with large volume suggest small bowel disorder.
• Oddly shaped or colored solid objects can tell you what your dog has gotten into. Several small white rice-like shapes, for example, may signify a tapeworm infestation. Grass, wood, or string could tell you that your dog has eaten something that they couldnt digest.
• Consistency: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets developed this well-illustrated chart that shows how vets score canine fecal consistency on a scale of one to seven.

As gross as it may seem to look at your dogs poop while you clean up your backyard or pick up after them on your evening walk, its important that you examine your dogs poop regularly as a gauge for what their normal poop looks like. This way, when you notice something off, or if your dog has diarrhea, you can give your vet as many details as possible. (Trust us, theyve heard it all and then some.) Armed with this knowledge of whats normal and abnormal for your dogs poop, the vet will be able to tell you whether to schedule and exam or whether you can treat your dogs diarrhea at home.

Home Remedies for Dog Diarrhea

A great many cases of dog diarrhea are mild and, with your vets advice, can be treated at home without a trip to the vets office. Your dogs diarrhea may respond to a regimen of very basic treatments, including:

Over-the-Counter Dog Diarrhea Treatments

An over-the-counter dog diarrhea treatment is good to have on hand, and can be ordered online for quick delivery for those occasional bouts of loose stools or diarrhea that every dog can experience.

Fasting Your Dog for Diarrhea Relief

Withholding food from your dog for 12 to 24 hours, and frequently providing fresh, clean water in small amounts can help clear the cause of the digestive upset and allow your dogs gastrointestinal tract to settle. Its usually the first line of attack for diarrhea. Before you decide to fast your dog for diarrhea, be sure that your dog is healthy enough to handle itcall your vet if you arent sure. Puppies and elderly dogs, for example, arent candidates for fasting. Also, a fast may not be appropriate for small dogs who do not have the physical reserves of their larger cousins. Always consult your vet if you have any doubt if fasting is right for your dog.

Diarrhea in dogs can lead to dehydration, so make sure to give your dog access to fresh, clean water at all times. You may also offer diluted unflavored Pedialyte to help maintain electrolyte balance, but only under a vets advice.

Home Remedies for Dog Diarrhea

After letting your dog fast for diarrhea relief, simple foods are usually slowly introduced to your dogs diet. Many dog owners start with foods that act as binders, which can help normalize stool consistency. Some tried-and-true methods include:

• Rice water: Boil high-quality white rice in a lot of water, strain out the grains, and offer your dog the cooled-off creamy white, starchy broth thats left. A splash of unsalted chicken broth or a spoon of meat baby food can make it more palatable.
• Plain, cooked white rice
• Pumpkin: Canned 100% pumpkin puree that you already have on the shelf, pet-safe pumpkin powder, or a pet-specific canned pumpkin for dogshas the odd distinction of being effective both for diarrhea and for constipation. If you purchase canned pumpkin in a grocery store, be sure to read the label to be sure its 100% pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling which includes sugar and other ingredients in addition to pumpkin.
• Plain yogurt with active cultures can help dogs who can tolerate milk and milk products.
• Probiotics to promote live bacteria that aid digestion (these are also found in yogurt)
• Boiled potatoeswithout skin
• Plain, low-sodium, low-fat cottage cheese
• Plain protein sources such as egg (cooked with no butter or oil) or chicken (without skin)
• Herbs, such as fennel, may have gut-soothing properties
• Specially-formulated dog foods: Some manufacturers offer sensitive stomach dog foods that can soothe stomach problems. You may need to get sensitive digestion prescription dog food with a prescription from your vet.
• Medications for dog diarrhea may also be an option, but would require a prescription and should always be given under advice of your veterinarian.

Methods that work for one dogs diarrhea may not help another dog, so you might need to do a little experimentation to find the right formula when your dog gets the runs. It might also be helpful to write down what works to stop your dogs diarrhea and what doesnt, so youll know what to do if your dog gets diarrhea again.

Once you find a recovery diet that agrees with your dogs digestion and doesnt cause a diarrhea relapse, you can slowly increase the portions over a period of days, and then start to add small amounts of your dogs regular food until your dogs poop is back to normal.

When Dog Diarrhea Means a Trip to the Vet

The right time to contact a vet for dog diarrhea depends very much on whats normal for your dogs poop habits. Unfortunately, some dogs are more prone to digestive disorders than others, so it helps to be mindful of what is and isnt out of the ordinary for your individual dog.

There are a few guidelines to help you know that you should at least contact your vet:

• Other physical symptoms, such as lethargy, fever, vomiting, dry, tacky or pale gums, or weakness
• Diarrhea that does not stop despite home remedies that worked in the past
• Dehydration
• Long duration Some say a few days, others give more timeagain, it helps to know what is normal for your dog
• Use of medication (a dog on antibiotics, for example)
• Existing conditions, such as advanced age, diabetes, Cushings, cancer, or any medical issue
• When things just dont seem right with your dog You know your dog, and only you know the subtle signs that something is wrong. Trust your gut! Give your vet a call and explain what youre seeing.

Too Many Dog Treats Can Cause Diarrhea

Dogs love nothing more than gobbling up a tasty treat. Treats let your furry friend know that they're being good and act as a scrumptious sign of love. Not only that, but treats are often bursting with enough flavor to keep your pooch's tail wagging well after they've swallowed it.

While most owners are more than willing to cave in after seeing those adorable puppy dog eyes, it's important to keep their snacking under control.

Like humans, dogs can experience unwanted side-effects after eating too many treats. One of the messiest and most uncomfortable is diarrhea.

The added flavors and unique ingredients used in many commercial dog treats can wreak havoc on your dog's digestive tract. In moderation, treats will pass through their system with no problem. However, when your dog consumes large quantities, they'll have to pay the price.

How Much Is Too Much?

When it comes to dog treats, there's no exact quantity you shouldn't exceed. There are a number of factors that you should consider when you're rewarding your pup. For one, it's important to remember that not all dog treats are made the same.

Manufacturers utilize unique formulas to create treats that are distinct. Some options may have a higher calorie count than others. The key to finding the right balance is to look at the treats as a smaller meal.

Instead of worrying about the number of treats you're giving your dog, worry about how those treats are affecting their daily caloric intake.

In total, treats should make up no more than 10% of their daily diet. It's a good idea to keep track of the treats you're giving them and modify the regular serving size of their main meals accordingly.

Take a look at the treat's nutritional value and use that information to determine how many treats you can supply without getting into dangerous territory. You should also consider your dog's size and breed.

Related Article: How to Clean Dog Diarrhea off Your Carpet

What Causes Diarrhea?

There are a number of reasons why an abundance of treats may cause your dog to experience diarrhea. Typically, diarrhea can be remedied quickly by simply by removing the irritant.

Unfortunately, most owners don't know what causes the stomach condition. Here are some common treat-related factors that can disrupt your pup's digestive system.

Fillers

As the name implies, fillers are designed to help your dog feel full and satisfied after eating a treat. They're often used to add bulk to dog foods without adding significant costs to the manufacturing process.

Unfortunately, some of the most popular filler ingredients aren't the best for your dog's stomach.

Fillers like corn, soy, and wheat are known to cause diarrhea. Dogs aren't equipped to process these ingredients. As a result, your dog's digestive system goes out of whack while they pass through.

Furthermore, fillers don't hold much nutritional value. They're basically wasted space that's used to fill the gap where more beneficial ingredients should be.

Because there aren't many nutrients to take advantage of, the body doesn't absorb the ingredients. Instead, they stay in the digestive tract until they're excreted.

Artificial Ingredients

You should always stick with natural ingredients when looking for dog treats. Cheaper treats often contain chemical additives that don't work well with your dog's body. These additives are used to enhance color, add flavor, and prolong the shelf life of the treat.

While consuming these treats every so often will pose no significant problem, eating too much may overload your dog's body. It'll have a difficult time processing the ingredients, which then results in uncomfortable diarrhea.

When you're shopping for treats, it's important to take a look at the ingredients list. If you find a long list of ingredients that you can't easily identify, the treat will likely cause issues.

There are many options on the market that are free of artificial ingredients and utilize natural alternatives to achieve the same effects.

Too Much Fat

Fat is a crucial nutrient that dogs need to stay energized and healthy. Healthy fats can add a boost of savory flavor to a treat and provide your pup with many cosmetic benefits. Treats often have a significant amount of fat in them. They're like junk food for the canine species.

All that added fat will turn your dog's normal stool into a runny mess and ultimately lead to weight gain. Even if it doesn't get to the point of causing diarrhea, you may notice that the fat causes your dog's poop to be slick and oily.

It's important to remember that your dog's standard kibble already has fat in its formula. Before you choose a dog treat, take note of the dog food's fat content and find a treat option that complements it.

Fat should only make up somewhere between 10% and 15% of your dog's diet each day.

A Sudden Change

One of the most basic and overlooked causes of diarrhea is a sudden change in what your dog's consuming. Dogs are creatures that get used to sticking to their normal routine.

They get accustomed to doing the same things and eating the same foods.

Have you ever switched kibble formulas and noticed that it upset your dog's stomach? The same principle applies to treats.

Usually, your pooch won't have problems consuming treats that contain wildly different ingredients. However, a sudden influx of new treats is a whole different story.

It throws off their system and makes it difficult to process the new ingredients. Their digestive tracts are very sensitive and will process the treat ineffectively, resulting in diarrhea.

What About Natural Treats?

There are many foods that you and your dog can share. Natural fruitsand vegetables are easy to come by and provide your pup with an unprocessed boost of nutrition.

While these treats are much healthier than commercial options, it's important to stick with the same rules.

Fruits and vegetables can actually have a bigger effect on your dog than manufactured treats. This is because dogs don't have the ability to filter out unsavory bits like humans do. Their stomachs may still react unfavorably regardless of how healthy the treat may seem.

Related: Worst Dog Treats 15 Bad Brands To Avoid

Over to You

All in all, treats should be a reward that's given out in moderation. While you may be tempted to provide a treat for every good thing your dog does, too much of a good thing can get pretty messy.

New foods should be introduced into your dog's diet slowly to avoid any sudden upsets. Stick to a strict calorie plan and pay close attention to what's going into your dog's body to keep them comfortable and free of stomach pains.